Fumigation is a process used in the removal of harmful insects, bacteria and other pests by using poisonous gas.
The infestation of termites also means to have fumigation in your house. The fumigation process is commonly used in a variety of fields and industries. Mainly it is used in the transport industry. It is fumigated before the trip to avoid any loss in the trip caused by the pests.
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Why Should We Get Fumigation Done in our Home?
When the season changes, the insect and pest attacks will gradually increase daily. This can be avoided by following simple preventive measures, but at certain times the situation goes out of control, and it becomes a necessity to get the fumigation done at our house or workplace.
Before Choosing a Fumigant Gas, We Have to Consider the Factors:
- Toxicity of the gas
- Penetration ability
- Cost-effective
- Tolerance
- Check the flammability rate
- After effects on seed germination
- Application process
- Easy usage
Process of Fumigation
This process of fumigation involves 3 stages.
- The place that will be fumigated should be sealed and carried out in a covered environment.
- The next stage is when fumigant gas is released inside the sealed space. And the gas is held in the place where the gas has to act on the pests and completely infest them.
- Lastly, the fumigated area is ventilated out through the spaces as it will be safe for humans to enter.
Now, the fumigated area will be free from pests and infests.
Control Action on Pests
- The fumigant gas has a direct effect on the reproduction of insects and pests.
- The gasses sprayed on the pests must be of a sub-lethal dose. If the dosage is increased, the gas can be poisonous to humans.
- The fumigant gas increases the development period of larvae, and this is important to determine when to fumigate and kill the larvae.
- The usage of an 80:20 mixture concentration of carbon tetrachloride and carbon disulphide directly affects the respiration of the pests.
Chemicals Used
Chemicals used in fumigation are:
- Formaldehyde
- Iodoform
- Sulfur dioxide
- Methyl isocyanate
Besides fumigation done in our homes, fumigation is also done in the hospital. In fact, it is a regular process carried out in hospitals. In hospitals, the fumigation process is carried out using highly concentrated toxic chemicals to fumigate the hospital premises and operation theatres. Formaldehyde is widely used in fumigation in hospitals to decrease the risk of surgical infections. The fumigation is carried out by vapour technique using formaldehyde as the source. This source is widely used and very cost-efficient. The other alternative is the combination of hydrogen peroxide and silver mixed in a solution is also an effective and cost-effective method.
Process for Hydrogen Peroxide and Silver Solution: –
The chemical solution is mixed in the quantity of 200ml with the 1000ml of demineralized water, and it must be sprayed at least for 30 minutes.
The safety exposure time to this solution is one hour.
Safety
While the fumigation process is in progress, there are some safety precautions to take, and here are a few:
- The fumigation process is hazardous, and it should be operated only by the certified personnel who hold certain proper certificates as the gasses used in fumigation are hazardous.
- The person spraying the fumigant gas must be covered with a PPE suit as it is the only option to get protected from the hazardous gas if one is operating above the prescribed levels of hazards.
- The risk assessment must be dealt with by taking the levels of fumigant gas, and the time of contact must be taken into consideration.
Conclusion:
The fumigation procedure is unquestionably effective against pests. However, if it is overexposed, it might cause health concerns. Therefore, it must be done with caution. To avoid any of these issues, you can always hire a certified person to carry out the fumigation process for you since they receive the right training to perform the job and are far more effective.